their Indian kin-folk.
Their knowledge of each other was simply universal--their kin ties
almost as general. These ties were brightened and friendships reknit in
the holiday season of the year, the leisure of the long winters, when
the far-scattered hewn log houses--small to the eye--were ever found
large enough to hold the welcome arrivals,--greeted with a kiss that
said, "I am of your blood." These widespread affiliations broke down
aught like "caste." Wealth or official position were practically
unheeded by a people in no fear of want and unaccustomed to luxuries,
who sought their kinswoman and her brood for themselves, not for what
they had in store. The children and grandchildren of men, however
assured in fortune or position, wove anew equalizing ties, seeking out
their mates as they came to hand; hence a genial, not a downward level,
putting to shame fine-spun theories of democracy in other lands--spun,
not worn.

This satisfaction of station--as said--grew out of the slight exertion
necessary for all the wants of life, with unlimited choice of the finest
land on the continent; the waters alive with fish and aquatic fowl;
rabbits and prairie fowl at times by actual cart-load; elk not far, and
countless buffalo behind,--furnishing meat, bedding, clothing and shoes
to any who could muster a cart or go in search; the woods and plains in
season, ripe with delicious wild fruit, for present use or dried for
winter,--the whole backed by abundant breadstuffs. The quota of the
farmers along the rivers, whose fertile banks were dotted by windmills,
whose great arms stayed the inconstant winds, and yoked the fickle
couriers to the great car of general plenty.

A LAND OF PEACE.

Poverty in one sense certainly existed; age and improvidence are always
with us, but it was not obtrusive, made apparent only towards the close
of the long winter, when some old veteran of the canoe or saddle would
make a "grand promenade" through the Settlement, with his ox and sled,
making known his wants, incidentally, at his different camps among his
old friends, finding always before he left his sled made the heavier by
the women's hands. This was simply done; few in the wild country but had
met with sudden exigencies in supply, knew well the need at times of one
man to another, and, when asked for aid, gave willingly. Or it may be
that some large-hearted, jovial son of the chase had overrated his
winter store, or underrated the assiduity o